Music Software Review: FabFilter Pro-C 2 [VIDEO]

FabFilter, the Amsterdam based company founded by Frederik Slijkerman and Floris Klinkert, have a fantastic reputation among composers and producers for the high quality of their audio plugins. They have recently released a new version of their flagship compression plugin, Pro-C 2, giving it an overhaul of interface improvements and new features. In today’s video review, Eli Krantzberg takes a good look at what’s new and takes it for a good test drive. Below is FabFilter‘s overview of Pro-C 2, as per the product page:

“FabFilter Pro-C 2 is a high-quality compressor plug-in for the most demanding engineers. Whether you need subtle mastering compression, an upfront lead vocal, that magic drum glue, or deep EDM pumping: Pro-C 2 gets the job done with style!

The fully redesigned interface in FabFilter Pro-C 2 offers insightful metering with real-time displays that will greatly improve workflow. The large animated level/knee display visualizes exactly when, why, and how compression is applied to incoming audio. Accurate level meters show the exact peak and loudness values, while the circular side-chain input meter turns finding the perfect threshold setting into a trivial task. And the large side-chain EQ controller makes it easier than ever to filter the trigger signal any way you like.

Of course, you also get all the usual FabFilter goodies: perfectly tuned knobs, interactive MIDI Learn, undo/redo and A/B switch, Smart Parameter Interpolation for smooth parameter transitions, an extensive help file with interactive help hints, sample-accurate automation, advanced optimization, and much more!

Key features

Eight different compression styles, of which five are new in version 2: Vocal, Mastering, Bus, Punch and Pumping [NEW]

FabFilter, the Amsterdam based company founded by Frederik Slijkerman and Floris Klinkert, have a fantastic reputation among composers and producers for the high quality of their audio plugins. They have recently released a new version of their flagship compression plugin, Pro-C 2, giving it an overhaul of interface improvements and new features. In today’s video review, Eli Krantzberg takes a good look at what’s new and takes it for a good test drive. Below is FabFilter’s overview of Pro-C 2, as per the product page: “FabFilter Pro-C 2 is a high-quality compressor plug-in for the most demanding engineers. Whether you need subtle mastering compression, an upfront lead vocal, that magic drum glue, or deep EDM pumping: Pro-C 2 gets the job done with style! Pro-C 2 offers eight different, program-dependent compression styles with beautiful sound and character. But there’s more! Apart from the classic compressor controls, you also get smooth lookahead, up to 4x oversampling, intelligent auto-gain and auto-release, a variable knee, hold, range, external side-chain triggering, variable stereo linking, and mid/side processing, all packed in a beautiful Retina user interface. The fully redesigned interface in FabFilter Pro-C 2 offers insightful metering with real-time displays that will greatly improve workflow. The large animated level/knee display visualizes exactly when, why, and how compression is applied to incoming audio. Accurate level meters show the exact peak and loudness values, while the circular side-chain input meter turns finding the perfect threshold setting into a trivial task. And the large side-chain EQ controller makes it easier than ever to filter the trigger signal any way you like. Of course, you also get all the usual FabFilter goodies: perfectly tuned knobs, interactive MIDI Learn, undo/redo and A/B switch, Smart Parameter Interpolation for smooth parameter transitions, an extensive help file with interactive help hints, sample-accurate automation, advanced optimization, and much more! Key features Eight different compression styles, of which five are new in version 2: Vocal, Mastering, Bus, Punch and Pumping [NEW] Gorgeous Retina interface, with (optional) animated level knee displays and accurate peak/loudness metering [NEW] Side-chain EQ section, with customizable HP and LP filters, plus an additional freely adjustable filter [NEW] Program-dependent attack and release curves Smooth lookahead (up to 20 ms), which can be enabled/disabled to ensure zero latency processing [NEW] Intelligent Auto Gain Hold (up to 500 ms) [NEW] Custom knee, variable from hard knee to a 72 dB soft knee (to enable saturation-like effects) [NEW] Auto Release Super-fast attack times Up to 4x oversampling [NEW] Variable stereo linking and mid/side processing, with mid-only, side-only, M > S and S > M processing. Audition Triggering option, which enables users to hear on which parts of the audio Pro-C 2 is triggering and how much compression is taking place [NEW] Multiple interface sizes: Small, Medium and Large [NEW] Range setting, which limits the maximum applied gain change [NEW] Mix setting, which scales the gain change from 0% to 200% [NEW] Full Screen mode, offering a large level display and side-chain EQ controller [NEW] Accurate, large level and gain change meters, with peak and loudness level visualization. The loudness level complies with…

Music Software Review: FabFilter Pro-C 2 [VIDEO]

Music Software Review: FabFilter Pro-C 2 [VIDEO]

2015-11-06

Eli Krantzberg

FabFilter Pro-C 2

Installation – 90%

New Features – 80%

Interface – 85%

Sound – 90%

Value – 90%

Presets – 90%

88

88%

Pro-C 2 has always been and still is a fantastic sounding plug-in. The original version was already feature packed, and the interface upgrade has enhanced its ease of use. There’s a fantastic palette of presets to use as jumping points for customization with your music.

88

Written by: Eli Krantzberg

Based in Montreal, Canada, Eli is involved in all aspects of audio production. In his studio he works with various artists, as well as on commercial jingles, corporate videos, and original music composition. In addition Eli works in audio post production for film and TV.

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